# Best Crash Cymbals for Metal — MetalForge **Guide URL:** https://metalforge.io/guides/best-crash-cymbals-for-metal ## Who This Guide Is For Metal drummers looking for fast, explosive accent cymbals for fills, breakdowns, and transitions — and what Lars Ulrich, Joey Jordison, Gene Hoglan, Charlie Benante, and Mario Duplantier actually play. Covers size, weight, and alloy across all budgets. --- ## The Crash Cymbal Every Metal Drummer Builds a Setup Around Every fill lands on one, every verse-to-chorus transition needs one. The crash is the most-used accent cymbal in metal drumming — designed to explode instantly and ring out cleanly, unlike a china's darker, trashier decay. Lars Ulrich has used Zildjian A Custom Rock Crashes (16", 17", 18") throughout Metallica's catalog since the 1996 Load sessions. Joey Jordison built Slipknot's Iowa-era cymbal setup around Paiste RUDE and 2002 Power Crashes (16"-19"), and Charlie Benante (Anthrax) has run the same Paiste RUDE/2002 Power Crash lineup (18"/19") for decades. Gene Hoglan rides 18" and 20" Sabian AAX Crashes across Death, Testament, and Dethklok, and Mario Duplantier (Gojira) layers 18" K Custom Hybrid, 19" A Custom, and 20" K Sweet Crashes for a graduated set of accent weights. --- ## Recommended Crash Cymbals for Metal ### 1. Zildjian A Custom Rock Crash — Best Overall - **Size:** 18" (also 16", 17") - **Alloy:** B20 Bronze, Brilliant - **Price range:** €200–€260 - **Best for:** Fast attack, thrash and general metal use **Who uses it:** - **Lars Ulrich** ([/drummer/lars-ulrich](https://metalforge.io/drummer/lars-ulrich)) — Metallica; 16"/17"/18" Rock Crashes since the 1996 Load sessions Zildjian's faster-attack, quicker-decay variant of the standard A Custom Crash, built specifically for rock and metal tempos. --- ### 2. Paiste 2002 Power Crash — Loudest / Most Explosive - **Size:** 18" (also 16", 17", 19") - **Alloy:** CuSn8 Bronze, Brilliant - **Price range:** €180–€230 - **Best for:** Maximum volume on the loudest stages **Who uses it:** - **Joey Jordison** ([/drummer/joey-jordison](https://metalforge.io/drummer/joey-jordison)) — Slipknot; Iowa-era cymbal setup - **Charlie Benante** ([/drummer/charlie-benante](https://metalforge.io/drummer/charlie-benante)) — Anthrax; decades of Big Four thrash touring Built for volume and explosiveness — a heavier, louder crash designed to hold up on the loudest stages without breaking up. --- ### 3. Sabian AAX X-Plosion Crash — Best for Technical Death Metal - **Size:** 18" (also 17", 20") - **Alloy:** B20 Bronze, Brilliant - **Price range:** €170–€220 - **Best for:** Fast, controlled accents in dense arrangements **Who uses it:** - **Gene Hoglan** ([/drummer/gene-hoglan](https://metalforge.io/drummer/gene-hoglan)) — Death / Testament / Dethklok; 18"/20" AAX Crashes across 20+ bands - **Flo Mounier** ([/drummer/flo-mounier](https://metalforge.io/drummer/flo-mounier)) — Cryptopsy; 17"/18" AAX X-Plosion Crashes A fast, explosive attack with a shorter, controlled decay than the standard AAX Crash — built for rapid-fire accents. --- ### 4. Zildjian K Custom Hybrid Crash — Best Layered-Setup Component - **Size:** 18" - **Alloy:** B20 Bronze, Dark/Brilliant Hybrid - **Price range:** €230–€280 - **Best for:** Combining dark complexity with a bright cutting edge **Who uses it:** - **Mario Duplantier** ([/drummer/mario-duplantier](https://metalforge.io/drummer/mario-duplantier)) — Gojira; part of a three-crash layered setup (18"/19"/20") Blends a dark, complex K Custom body with a brighter, cutting Brilliant finish for more versatility than a purely dark or bright crash. --- ### 5. Meinl Byzance Extra Dry Medium Crash — Best for Progressive/Groove Metal - **Size:** 18" (also 20") - **Alloy:** B20 Bronze, Extra Dry - **Price range:** €210–€260 - **Best for:** Controlled, fast-decaying accents in technical passages **Who uses it:** - **Matt Halpern** ([/drummer/matt-halpern](https://metalforge.io/drummer/matt-halpern)) — Periphery; 18"/20" Extra Dry Medium Crashes - **Chris Adler** ([/drummer/chris-adler](https://metalforge.io/drummer/chris-adler)) — Lamb of God; 18"/19" Byzance Dark Crashes A dark, dry tone with controlled, fast decay — cuts cleanly without cluttering technical passages. --- ## Thin vs Medium/Heavy Crash for Metal **Thin/Fast Crashes (Lars Ulrich's Rock Crashes, Gene Hoglan/Flo Mounier's X-Plosion Crashes):** - Explode instantly with a shorter, more controlled decay - Best for rapid-fire accents **Medium/Heavy Crashes (Joey Jordison and Charlie Benante's Power Crashes):** - Louder, more sustained decay with real low-end weight - Best for sustained accents and heavier breakdowns **Verdict:** Most pro metal drummers run both weights — which is exactly why Mario Duplantier layers three different crashes at three different weights. --- ## FAQ **What crash cymbal does Lars Ulrich use?** Lars Ulrich uses Zildjian A Custom Rock Crashes in 16", 17", and 18" sizes, part of his Zildjian A Custom setup since the 1996 Load sessions. **What size crash cymbal is best for metal?** 16"-19" covers the metal crash range. Smaller crashes (16"-17") respond faster; larger crashes (18"-19") project louder and sustain longer. Most pro drummers, like Mario Duplantier, run multiple sizes. **How many crash cymbals should a metal drummer have?** Most pro metal drummers run 2-4 crashes at different sizes and weights. Mario Duplantier (Gojira) layers three — 18", 19", and 20" — each with a different tonal character. **What's the best budget crash cymbal for metal?** The Zildjian ZBT Crash (€60–80) delivers a genuinely explosive B8 bronze sound at a true beginner price. The Sabian XSR Fast Crash (€100–130) brings B20 bronze to a mid-range price. **Crash vs china cymbal — what's the difference for metal?** A crash rings out cleanly with a longer, more musical decay, making it the standard choice for fills and transitions. A china produces a faster, dirtier, more explosive attack with a shorter decay, better suited to accenting breakdowns and blast beat punctuation. --- ## Related Guides - [Best Cymbals for Metal](https://metalforge.io/guides/best-cymbals-for-metal) - [Best Ride Cymbals for Metal](https://metalforge.io/guides/best-ride-cymbals-for-metal) - [Best China Cymbals for Metal](https://metalforge.io/guides/best-china-cymbals-for-metal)